My love affair with Italy began in the early 1990’s. I think it started the moment I had my first meal at a cozy trattoria in Florence. The food was absolutely divine. Simple, fresh and cooked with a passion that was almost tangible. There are so many reasons to love Italy: its food, wines, language, architecture, design, people, history, landscapes, beaches… the list is endless. These are all great reasons to visit Italy and I always try to plan a trip back every year.
Since that first trip, I’ve covered large swathes of Veneto, Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, Süd Tirol, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Sicily, Sardinia, Campania, Puglia and Basilicata by car, foot and public transport; driven along the stunning coasts of the Amalfi and the Cinque Terre; strolled through cities and towns like Rome, Milan, Venice, Verona, Naples, Florence, Siena, Assisi, Lecce and Bologna; and yet, there’s so much more to see and do, so many more culinary secrets to discover and countless wines to taste!
AD Fly to Italy with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Reasons to visit Italy!
Historic heritage
Italy’s history goes back thousands of years and the legacy of that long and often tempestuous history can be found throughout the country. I’m a big fan of history and art so it’s not difficult to imagine why Italy always fascinates me.
Read about things to see in Pompeii.
Read about things to do in Ravenna.
Read about the Art Cities of Emilia-Romagna.
Read more about things to see in Lecce.
Read about the highlights of Abruzzo.
Read about things to see in Gallipoli.
Read about things to see in Ferrara.
Read about things to do in Matera.
Cities and towns
From the hustle-and-bustle of cities like Rome, Milan, Naples and Bologna to extraordinary towns like Matera, San Gimignano, Assisi, Alberobello and Positano, Italy is awash with fascinating places to visit!
Read about the Duomo in Milan.
Read about things to do in Bologna.
Read about things to do in Bergamo.
Read about places to visit in Liguria.
Read about places to visit in the Itria Valley.
Read about my visit to Positano.
Read about visiting Civitella del Tronto.
Read about the best places to visit in Piedmont on a road trip.
Read more about the best places to visit in Puglia.
Martina Franca is another of my favourite towns to visit in Puglia! Read more about things to do in Martina Franca.
Read about the best places to visit in Emilia-Romagna.
Food & wines
Italy is heaven for foodies and wine-lovers. The diversity of dishes and wines is simply enormous and Italians are deservedly proud of their culinary heritage. Eating in Italy is always a joy for me!
Read about my Moscato di Scanzo wine-tasting.
Read about my Lambrusco experience.
Read about my food and wine experiences and the best places to visit in Monferrato, Piedmont.
Read about a food tour of Modena.
Street scenes
When I’m in Italy, one of my favourite things to do is sit at a café with a coffee or a glass of wine and simply watch people pass by or chatting animatedly with one another.
Read about things to see in Bari.
Read about how to spend a few days in Modena.
See more photos of Bologna.
Read about things to do in Casale Monferrato in Piedmont.
Colours
Italy is an incredibly colourful country. Wherever you go, a splash of colour is never far away.
Art and Design
From its countless historic treasures to cutting-edge fast cars, Italy is simply heaven for art and design lovers!
Read more about the Motor Valley.
Read about my visit to the Vespa Museum.
Read about a things to do in Emilia-Romagna.
Nature
With a length of more than 1,000km, boot-shaped Italy is home to a big variety of natural landscapes; from the jagged peaks of the Dolomites and the rolling hills of Tuscany to the thick forests of the Gargano Peninsula and the blindingly white beaches of Sardinia.
Yes, I have many reasons to love Italy! I always feel happy when I visit Italy. The food, wines, historic heritage and sights never fail to excite my senses. The whole country is simply one big Velvet Escape! 🙂
Vatican City, Portofino, Bari, Tuscany, Milan pictures are my favorite! Magazine quality shots.
[…] See my photo essay on reasons I love Italy […]
[…] See my photo essay on reasons I love Italy […]
[…] See my photo essay on reasons I love Italy […]
It was great to have you here! I decided to keep the champagne bottle we opened for your birthday and transform it in a lovely candle holder. Will make me think at a wonderful night with an awesome friend!
Ciao
Hi Simon,
Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality and the many tips and recommendations! We had a fabulous time in Milan…yes, it was too short! I can’t thank you enough for the lovely birthday dinner! 🙂
Lots of hugs and hope you’ve recovered from your cold.
Keith 🙂
Hope you have the best time ever! 🙂
Saluti dalla Toscana!
Seeing how thrilled you are to travel to Italy and having some close friends who’ve visited this country (several times some), hearing only great stories and recommendations I have to admit that Italy is on the top list of my travel places to go to 🙂 Have a lovely trip and please share the amazing places you’ll visit 🙂
great picture, nice write up.
Sweet! Looking forward to following your trip. My favorite part of Italy is the Amalfi Coast, especially Positano.
Sounds like a great trip. My first time in Italy was in March, and I’m ready to go back! Loved Cinque Terre and Tuscany. Enjoy it- it’s certain to go by too quickly.
@Keith: it was so wonderful to eventually meet you in person! You’re as I had imagined you… no… better! I will never thank you enough, because if it weren’t for you I would not be joy blogging now. Enjoy every second of your Italian journey!
@Jeremy: I can’t believe it! Well… If you’re not a great fan of Italy maybe you’re a fan of good wine. Ask Keith… My home is simple but you’re welcome any time and you’ll always find here a glass of good red or white wine and a dish of delicious Italian pasta… 🙂
Gorgeous! I’m so in love with Italy too! Have a beautiful adventure in Italy!
We are looking forward to having you here! We have a couple of good restaurants in mind too…! LOL
I’m thrilled that you’re coming back to Italy and have included some of the best of Tuscany in your itinerary. You’ll love staying with Gloria @casinadirosa!! The Maremma is probably my favourite area of Tuscany and Gloria my favourite person.
If you have a day in Florence, how about letting me take you to see something special TBA – a little known fresco or something – and doing a quick interview for one of the blogs of Tuscany’s official social media team?
PS @Jeremy B how can you NOT be a fan of Italy!! it’s a big country with so much to explore. Cinque Terre is…. well, not the best of it.
I’ve only visited Rome and its surrounding and a part of Sardinia, but I did fall in love with Italy the moment I stepped down from the plane on my first visit there 10 years ago. It’s an amazing country and I’d always go back there for a shorter or longer vacation. Have fun on your trip!
I will certainly follow this velvet trip. I too love Italy for exactly the same reasons you do. If I get the chance, I would love to live for at least a month there. Enjoy!
*sigh* ~ don’t we all love Italy? Well, with the exception of Jeremy that is!!! LOL 😉 Have a super time Keith. x
OMG, have fun!!!
There aren’t enough words to describe how jealous I am. 😉
Have a fabulous time and please enjoy some pesto alla genovese in Santa Margherita on my behalf…
Oh! Your trip looks great! Have fun Keith! 🙂
Oh! Enjoy your trip and happy birthday to you! 🙂
Not a huge fan of Italy but I loved the Cinque Terre!
[…] Returning to Italy, one of my favorite countries in the universe … […]